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$ THE GLASS FACTORY. $
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,,^«=$*#¶# SEVERAL CENTURIES AFTER IT HAD LAST #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ BELONGED TO US, WE WENT ON AN OUTING TO ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# THE GLASS FACTORY THAT BORE OUR FAMILY #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## NAME. IT HAD CHANGED OWNERS MANY TIMES ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# SINCE OUR ANCESTORS DEATH, AND THEN #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ STOOD ABANDONED FOR A LONG WHILE. ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# FINALLY, THE NATURAL END STATION FOR #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## THE BUILDINGS THAT SURVIVE: A MUSEUM, ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# AND A GIFT SHOP. #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# THERE'S A LONG TIME SINCE MY FAMILY #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## MADE ANYTHING. BY MANY, WE WOULD BE ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# CONSIDERED POOR. #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# THERE ARE TWO MAIN FACTORY BUILDINGS, #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## DOMED THINGS OF SEVERAL FLOORS, MADE IN ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# YELLOW BRICK. LARGE BUT NARROW WINDOWS, #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ REMINESCENT OF SOME CATHEDRAL. ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# CUSTOM-MADE GLASS, OF COURSE, LARGE AND #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## LEADED, AND ASHEN. A BIT TOO DARK TO BE ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# PRACTICAL. ON THE EASTERN BUILDING, #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ SOME ARE SHATTERED. ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## THE OTHER ONE IS PUBLICLY OPEN. THERE'S ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# A MUSEUM, WITH WAX FIGURES OF MY GREAT #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, OR SOMETHING. ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# VARIOUS TOOLS (OR REPLICAS) LAID OUT ON #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## TABLES, WITH EXPLAINING TEXTS. A LOT OF ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# GLASS OF VARYING THICKNESS. #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# $$ #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## $$ $$ ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# ««««««« $ $ ««««««« #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ $$ $$ ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# $$ #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# I QUICKLY SNEAK OUT, AND CLIMB INTO THE #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ OTHER BUILDING. THE CONTRAST IS ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# OVERWHELMING. IT MUST HAVE STOOD #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## DERELICT FOR A LONG TIME, WINDOWS ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# BROKEN, METALLIC TRASH AND POOLS OF #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ DARK GLASS ALL OVER THE FLOOR. NO ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# ELECTRIC LIGHTS, BUT I CAN SEE BY THE #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## LIGHT THAT SHINES IN WHEREVER THE DARK ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# WINDOWS ARE MISSING A PANE. #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# HOWEVER, THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE IS THE #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## HIGHER FLOORS: THIS BUILDING HAS NONE. ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# IT IS ONE MASSIVE HALL, STRETCHING AWAY #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ INFINITELY ABOVE ME. SOMEWHERE UP THERE ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# IS SOME GREAT IRON LATTICEWORK, FROM #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## WHERE CHAINS ARE SUSPENDED, AND PARTS ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# OF MACHINERY HAS BEEN FALLING DOWN. #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# THERE IS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## HALL, A THIN SPIRAL STAIRCASE THAT ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# LEADS UP THERE. I SNEAK OVER THERE, AND #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ TAKE A FEW RELUCTANT STEPS. AFTER JUST ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# A REVOLUTION, I NOTICE THAT FOR EACH #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## STEP THE BUILDING STARTS TO GLOW, THE ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# BRICKS TURNING A DARK RED, AND THEN #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ ORANGE, ALL THE PILED UP DEBREE BEING ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# LIT FROM BEHIND. #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# I STOP READY TO RUN DOWN AND OUT, BUT #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE ON THE STAIRCASE ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# WITH ME NOW, PRESSED CLOSE. HE'S #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## LOOKING LIKE ME, SHORT HAIR AND THIN ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# ARMS, BUT WITH EARS FROM SOME ANIMAL, #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ AND MORE DISTURBINGLY, COMPLETELY MADE ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# OF DARK LIQUID GLASS. #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# $$ #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ $$ $$ ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# ««««««« $ $ ««««««« #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## $$ $$ ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# $$ #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# MY FEAR HOLDS ME IN PLACE WHILE HE #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## STARTS OPERATING LEVERS AND DIALS SET ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# IN THE CENTER OF THE STAIRCASE. SLOWLY, #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ IT STARTS SPINNING, CIRCLING UPWARDS. ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# IT'S AN ELEVATOR! I START TO RUN #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## DOWNWARDS, BUT NOW THE LIQUID BOY ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# CREATURE GRABS HOLD OF ME. I TRY TO #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ SHAKE HIM OFF, BUT HE'S TOO STRONG, AND ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# PULLS ME BACK UP BESIDE HIM. #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# THIS TIME, I TURN ANGRY INSTEAD. WHAT #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ THE HELL? WHO IS THIS GUY, ACTING LIKE ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# THIS? I REACH OUT MY FREE ARM AND SLAM #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## A RANDOM LEVER. SOME METAL BAR IS ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# SUDDENLY RELEASED BETWEEN US, HITTING #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ HIM ON THE ARM, FORCING MY RELEASE. I ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# SHOVE HIM OFF OF ME, AND HE FALLS INTO #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## THE LEVERS, MESSING THEM UP. ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# IMMEDIATELY, A THIN RUSTY CHAINMAIL #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ CURTAIN IS DROPPED AROUND ME. BUT THE ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# ELEVATOR ALSO SPEEDS UP SIGNIFICANTLY. #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# THE WALLS ARE FLARING NOW, YELLOW, #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ WHITE, ALMOST BLUE. I CLOSE MY EYES AND ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# CURL INTO A BALL. BUT THEN, THE GLASS #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## BOY SCREAMS, A PIERCING SOUND THAT ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# FORCES MY EYES BACK OPEN. I WATCH AS HE #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ BECOMES TOO LIQUID, HIS BODY POOLING ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# DOWN IN HIS NOW MASSIVE TAIL, AND THE #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## TIP OF IT SUDDENLY BREAKS OF IN A GLASS ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# DROP THAT FALLS TOWARD THE FACTORY #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ FLOOR. ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## HE'S CRAWLING ON THE STAIRS, UNABLE TO ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# KEEP HIS BODY UPRIGHT. CAN'T REACH THE #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ LEVERS, CLAWS AT MY CHAINMAIL CAGE, ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# WHILE HIS BODY IS TURNING INTO DARK #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## PEARLS. FINALLY, HE'S LOST TOO MUCH OF ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# HIMSELF AND THE SCREAM IS CUT SHORT. #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ THE LAST OF HIM RAINS DOWN. ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## I STILL CAN'T REACH THE LEVERS FROM ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# WITHIN MY CAGE. LOOKING UP, I TRY TO #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ MAKE OUT THE CEILING, BUT IT'S ALL A ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# WHIRLING SEA OF COLOURS. BELOW ME GLOWS #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## THE HELLFIRE OF THE FACTORY WALLS, BUT ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# VERY FAINT. I SIT DOWN, CURL BACK UP, #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ BECOME STILL. ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## $$ ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# $$ $$ #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ ««««««« $ $ ««««««« ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# $$ $$ #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## $$ ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ A LARGE CLUNK SHAKES MY ENTIRE BODY, ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# AND SNAPS ME BACK INTO REALITY. I'M #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## BACK AT THE FACTORY FLOOR, BUT THE ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# STAIRS ARE STILL MOVING SLIGHTLY, #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ CLICKING IN PLACE, CARRYING ME THE LAST ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# FEW CENTIMETERS. I CAME FROM BELOW, #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## SOMEHOW. THE CHAINMAIL IS RETRACTED, ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# AND I SLOWLY DISMOUNT THE STAIRS. #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# SHAKING AND CRYING, I MAKE MY WAY OVER #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## THE FACTORY FLOOR, WADING THROUGH DARK ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# GLASS MARBLES. A QUICK GLANCE DOWN, AND #¶#*$=«^,,
,,,^«=$*#¶ I SEE THERE'S SOMETHING FAINT INSIDE ¶#*$=«^,,,
,,^«=$*#¶# THEM. EMBRYOS? ARE THESE EGGS? #¶#*$=«^,,
,^«=$*#¶## ##¶#*$=«^,
,,^«=$*#¶# I SHUDDER, AND CLIMB BACK OUT. #¶#*$=«^,,
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